After fleeing the famine, my older sister and I married the brother next door.

Mr. Chen took the purse, his hands trembling slightly. He opened it and saw that inside were gleaming silver coins and a silver note, fifty taels in total, not a penny less.

Chen's mother also came over to look, her eyes reddening: "Good, good. You two sisters are truly our family's lucky stars."

Chen Dashan stood beside her, looking at Su Xiaoyin with a smile in his eyes. Su Xiaoyin felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and lowered her head to tidy up the things in her basket.

Su Xiaoqing held up the bag of roast duck and said with a smile, "Mom, we're having an extra meal tonight! My sister bought roast duck and some meat, let's make dumplings!"

Chen's mother smiled and wiped her eyes, "Okay, let's make dumplings! We'll have a good meal tonight!"

The kitchen bustled with activity. Su Xiaoyin chopped the meat, Su Xiaoqing kneaded the dough, and Chen's mother tended the fire. Chen Xiaohe went to the garden to cut some chives and pluck a few scallions. Chen Dashan set up a table in the yard, and Chen's father sliced ​​and plated the roast duck.

The four children, drawn by the aroma, ran out of the house and circled the table. Stone, standing on tiptoe, peered at the table and swallowed hard. "Mom, it smells so good!"

Su Xiaoyin poked her head out of the kitchen and said with a smile, "Don't worry, it'll be ready in a bit. We're having dumplings and roast duck tonight."

The children cheered and ran to wash their hands.

The dumplings were wrapped, plump and white, and neatly arranged on the bamboo steamer. Mother Chen boiled water, added the dumplings, and after a few swirls, they were cooked.

The family sat around the table as steaming dumplings and roast duck were served. Su Xiaoqing put a dumpling in everyone's bowl and a piece of roast duck in each of the children's bowls.

Mr. Chen took a bite of the dumpling, chewed slowly, and nodded: "Delicious. Life is getting better and better."

Chen's mother smiled and said, "Yes, there's hope."

Chen Xiaohe ate heartily, saying indistinctly, "Sister-in-law, your cooking is getting better and better. This dumpling filling smells so good."

Su Xiaoyin smiled: "Meat is good. You should eat more."

Chen Dashan placed a piece of roast duck into Su Xiaoyin's bowl and said in a low voice, "You eat too."

Su Xiaoyin glanced at him, a smile curving her lips, and then lowered her head to eat.

After dinner, the family sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. The moon rose, casting its soft light across the ground. The four children chased fireflies in the yard, their giggles carrying far away.

Father Chen, puffing on his pipe, said slowly, "Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing, you two sisters are very skilled, and your reputation has spread. You won't have to worry about finding work in the future. But don't overwork yourselves; take it slow."

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Father, we know. Once this Five Relationships picture is finished, we'll take a break this year and continue next year."

Su Xiaoqing also said, "Yes, we have enough work for this year. We'll think of something new next year."

Chen's mother said from the side, "Yes, don't overwork yourself. There's still a long life ahead of you."

As night deepened and the children grew sleepy, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing carried them back into the house.

Chen Dashan stood up and walked into the house. The kitchen light was still on, and Su Xiaoyin was tidying up the dishes. He walked over and stood in the doorway watching her.

Su Xiaoyin turned around and smiled: "What's wrong?"

Chen Dashan shook his head, walked over, and helped her put the dishes and chopsticks away in the cupboard. Neither of them spoke, but they both knew in their hearts that things would get better.

----

"Dashan, I've made arrangements with those two families in our village." Chen's father returned from outside, sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, and took a puff of his pipe. "We'll hire them to help with the autumn harvest this year. The two brothers from the Li family and the eldest son from the Zhao family, a total of three people. Twenty coins per person per day, plus food."

Chen Dashan was tidying up his tools in the carpentry workshop when he heard this. He came out and sat down next to his father: "Twenty coins a day, that's not expensive. It's not much more than carrying heavy loads in the county town."

Mr. Chen nodded: "I asked Brother De. His family also hired people for the autumn harvest this year, and that's the price. Brother De is in charge in the village, so the price he set can't be wrong."

Chen Dashan was relieved to hear this. Brother De was fair in his dealings, and since his family was charging the same price, there was nothing to worry about.

"Dad, I've finished making the shelves for Uncle Li Hu's house. I can deliver them to him in the next day or two," Chen Dashan said. "After I finish delivering the goods, I'll go check on Brother De's shop. If the doors and windows are still usable, we won't need to redo them. If there's enough time before the autumn harvest, I'll make a few more rows of shelves."

After thinking for a moment, Chen's father said, "The crops will have to wait. This year there has been a drought, so the crops are ripening later than usual. There's no rush. You should take care of things with Brother De first."

Su Xiaoyin brought out a bowl of chilled tea from the kitchen, handed it to Chen's father, and poured another bowl for Chen Dashan. These days, she and Su Xiaoqing embroidered the Five Relationships diagram in the morning, played with the children in the afternoon, and occasionally took the children to gather pig feed, not forgetting to dig up medicinal herbs if they saw any. Their days were fulfilling, and they didn't feel tired at all.

"Dad, are the autumn harvest supplies ready?" Su Xiaoyin asked.

Mr. Chen took a sip of his cold tea and said, "It's almost done. The sickles are all sharpened, and the ropes and baskets are all ready. Tomorrow, have your mother go to the county town to buy some more meat and bones; we need to make sure we have enough to eat during the harvest."

---

On the first day of the autumn harvest, Chen's mother drove a mule cart to the county town early in the morning.

She bought four or five pounds of pork belly and a few large bones from the butcher stall. Knowing that the braised meats sold well, she also bought a pig's head and a set of offal. With a large family and the autumn harvest being so tiring, she wanted everyone to eat well.

Back home, Chen's mother unloaded the groceries, and Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing came to help. The pork belly was cut into chunks, ready for braising; the pork bones were simmered to make broth; the pig's head and offal were cleaned and prepared for stewing.

In the evening, the family sat together, and Mr. Chen began to arrange the autumn harvest.

"Starting tomorrow, everyone take your positions." Mr. Chen looked at his family, his tone steady. "I'll still go to the county town to set up my stall; we can't let it fall apart. Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing, one of you will go to the county town's general store, and the other will stay home to cook. You two can discuss it yourselves."

Su Xiaoyin said, "Dad, how about I go to the shop first, and Xiaoqing stays home to cook? We can switch in a few days."

Su Xiaoqing nodded: "Okay, you go first, I'll switch with you in a few days."

Mr. Chen continued, "Xiaohe and I, along with the three people we hired, went to the fields to harvest. Dashan was drying the grain in the threshing ground."

Chen Dashan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Dad, I'll go to the fields too..."

Mr. Chen waved his hand: "You're at the threshing ground. Last autumn harvest, your legs were so tired, how long did it take to recover? This year, do the easier work, don't push yourself."

Chen Dashan wanted to say something, but Su Xiaoyin gently tugged at his sleeve and shook her head at him. He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

Chen Xiaohe said from the side, "Brother, just listen to Dad. The work at the threshing ground is not easy either. The grain is brought back cart by cart, and we have to turn it over, dry it, and collect it. We also have to protect it from birds pecking at it and chickens scratching it. Your legs are not good, so don't try to be brave."